NHL Signings & Free Agents

Eller was set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason but signs a five-year extension for the exact same cap-hit he already had ($3.5M). Eller has enjoyed the best offensive season of his career to-date, as he’s on-pace for a career-high in goals (17), assists (26) and points (43) after picking up 11 goals and 17 assists (28 points) in his first 53 games of 2017-18.

Gerbe has been playing in Switzerland for the last two seasons, picking up 13 goals and 22 assists (35 points) in 45 games. Gerbe will be placed on waivers to be sent to Cleveland (AHL). The diminutive forward has 138 points (58G / 80A) in 394 career NHL games with the Sabres and Hurricanes.

The Predators are apparently very happy with their blueline depth, signing Irwin, Yannick Weber and Anthony Bitetto all to extensions this morning. Irwin has collected seven points (2G / 5A) in 31 games this season, giving him 21 points (5G / 16A) in 105 gams with Nashville over the last two seasons.

Bitetto has been in and out of the Predators lineup this season, but has appeared in 22 games, picking up just three points (1G / 2A). Nashville also signed Yannick Weber this morning, locking in their two depth defenseman for at least another season.

Weber has served as a depth defensemen for the Predators for the last two season. He has picked up one goal and two assists (three points) in 25 games this season, to give him just 11 points (2G / 9A) in 98 career games with Nashville.

Atkinson’s extension include a no-trade or no-move clause in the first two years of the deal and a limited no-trade after that. Atkinson had a breakout campaign in 2016-17 but has struggled early-on in 2017-18, collecting just four goals and two assists (six points) in 15 games. Regardless of the slow start, Atkinson is locked into a large role in the Blue Jackets offence and is now signed there through the 2024-25 season.

Polak appeared in 75 games with the Maple Leafs last season, posting just 11 points (4G / 7A) and averaging 17:55 TOI/GM—including a team-high 2:54 TOI/GM on the penalty kill. The Maple Leafs have been leaning heavily on Ron Hainsey and Nikita Zaitsev on the PK, so Polak has likely been signed to ease that burden on those two.

Matheson, 23, was the No.23 pick in 2012 and has become a big part of the Panthers’ blueline, averaging over 21 minutes per game last year and through the first two games of this season. He has some offensive ability to his game and should be able to top his 17 points (7G / 10A) from last season.

Pirri has proven to be a quality goal-scorer throughout his career, but hasn’t really been put in opportunities to succeed in recent years. Pirri had 22 goals in 49 games with the Panthers in 2014-15 and is coming off of a season where he tallied eight goals and 10 assists (18 points) in 60 contests with the Rangers.

Borowiecki, 28, does not being a lot of fantasy value to the table unless you are in a hits league. In 2016-17. Borowiceki led the league in hits (364) last season, but had just one goal and two assists.

Winnik is expected to make his Wild debut on Thursday after earning a contract on a PTO during training camp. Winnik is coming off of a year in which he had 12 goals and 13 assists (25 points) in 72 games with the Capitals. Look for him to skate with Matt Cullen and Tyler Ennis on the Wild fourth line in his debut.

Chiasson, 27, spent last year in Calgary after two years in Ottawa and had 12 goals and 12 assists (24 points) in 81 games. Chiasson will make his Capitals debut on the third line while Tom Wilson is suspended.